Environmental Policy Task Force News

"Terrible Twelve" Anti-Property Rights Congressmen
Named

The National Center for Public Policy Research joins the League of Private
Property Voters (LPPV) in naming the "Terrible Twelve" -- twelve
members of the House and Senate who pose the greatest threat to property
owners. They are: Senators Max Baucus (D-MT) and Paul Wellstone (D-MN) and
Representatives Sherwood Boehlert (R-NY), David Bonior (D-MI), George Brown
(D-CA), Vic Fazio (D-CA), Elizabeth Furse (D-OR), Sam Gejdenson (D-CT), Maurice
Hinchey (D-NY), David Obey (D-WI), Chris Shays (R-CT), and Mike Ward (D-KY).

"This 'Terrible Twelve' have threatened property owners across the
country by voting against compensation when land is taken by the government,
fighting the balancing of costs and benefits in government regulations,
opposing all reforms of the Endangered Species Act and shutting down public
lands from public use," said LPPV Director Chuck Cushman. "Each
member of the 'Terrible Twelve' led the charge in the wrong direction on
important land use and property rights issues."

Among the "Terrible Twelve's" worst offenses:

George Brown sponsored a bill to limit timber harvest equipment to
horse-drawn carts and ropes.

Vic Fazio sponsored an amendment to shut down traditional uses of
California's East Mojave Desert, including recreation. It also would have cut
off private property owners from their land by limiting access through public
land.

Elizabeth Furse proposed repealing salvage logging legislation -- logging
that allows common-sense management of timber lands. Oregon's AFL-CIO
President wrote to Furse, "I find your lead sponsorship of this measure to
be counterproductive."

Maurice Hinchey hypocritically sponsored legislation to lock up nearly 6
million acres in Utah by designating it wilderness then opposed such
designation for forest land near his congressional district fearing it would
cost too many jobs.

"The 'Terrible Twelve' apparently believes that no burden on American
families is too high to preserve America's natural resources," said David
Ridenour, Vice President of The National Center for Public Policy Research, a
LPPV member group. "They've apparently lost sight of the fact that the
most precious natural resource we have is the American family."

The LPPV is a coaliton of over 300 organizations from all 50 states. It
represents family businesses, farmers, miners, ranchers and recreationists. ###